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Lisa Stone, of Indianola unfolds her hot air balloon getting it ready to take off during the National Balloon Classic mass ascension on Saturday, July 30, 2016, in Indianola. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Randy Stone, of Indianola and Roger Edvenson, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, get Stone's balloon ready to take off during the National Balloon Classic mass ascension on Saturday, July 30, 2016, in Indianola. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

A flight crew member, Randy Stone, of Indianola and Jorden Prieb Cole, of St. Paul, Minnesota, pack up Stone's balloon after a flight during the National Balloon Classic mass ascension on Saturday, July 30, 2016, in Indianola. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola present the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola wait to present the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola present the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Nick Milani of Indianola salutes during the singing of the national anthem. Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola presented the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Nick Greener of Indianola salutes during the singing of the national anthem. Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola presented the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Doug Pepper of Indianola holds the U.S. flag during the singing of the national anthem. Members of the Boy Scout troops 122 and 123 and Cub Scout packs 126 and 135 all of Indianola presented the flags during the National Balloon Classic opening ceremony July 30 at the Indianola Balloon Field. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Tim Cloyd of Runnells fires the burners to inflate the envelope of his balloon Glorious Drifter during the July 30 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola.
MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Tim Cloyd of Runnells fires the burners to inflate the envelope of his balloon Glorious Drifter during the July 30 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Tim Cloyd of Runnells sets up a remote camera to record the flight of his balloon Glorious Drifter during the July 30 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Yellow Brick Road piloted by Rob Nutting of Carlisle and Dream Duster flown by Gary And Chris King of Urbandale float above the Indianola Balloon Field during the July 30 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

“The preliminary numbers are higher than last year and last year was a record-breaking year,” Scheurenbrand said. “That first Saturday night we had more than 10,000 people, which was quite stellar.”

She said she couldn’t be more thrilled with how everything went, even despite the fact Thursday was a complete rain out.

“We bounced back over the weekend and the weather turned incredible,” Scheurenbrand said. “It was a great finish to our week. We had cooler temperatures and amazing flights.”

An increase of media exposure helped get the word out this year, Scheurenbrand said about the possible record-breaking year.

“We had national news here. The Weather Channel spent a couple of days here doing their Weather Nation,” Scheurenbrand said. “IPTV was also here and social media helped a lot.”

Of course, Scheurenbrand said she already has some challenges to overcome before next year.

“One thing people always want to know if balloons are flying before they head out. But if they wait for our call it’s too late. That brings challenges with parking and traffic,” Scheurenbrand said. “We’ll work to continually try to improve that situation.”

She said she always encourages people to come early and enjoy the entertainment before the balloons fly.

Scheurenbrand said there were no accidents or safety concerns during the Classic flights and the competitions went on without a problem.

This year’s winner was Scott Armstrong of Urbandale. Gary Haynes of Indianola earned the second spot and Ben Humpreys of Missouri took the third spot.

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A scoring official for the National Balloon Classic watches as pilot Tyler Thompson of Des Moines approaches the scoring area at the Indianola Balloon Field during the July 29 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Kay's WindDancer II piloted by Ken Walter of Waukesha, WI, approaches the scoring area at the Indianola Balloon Field during the July 29 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Jeremy King of Indianola pilots the balloon That One There just above the ground at the Indianola Balloon Field during the July 29 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Rob Nutting of Carlisle pilots his balloon Yellow Brick Road as balloons fill the sky behind him during the National Balloon Classic flight at the Indianola Balloon Field on the morning of July 30. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Tim Cloyd of Runnells fires the burners to inflate the envelope of his balloon Glorious Drifter during the July 30 evening flight at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Randy Stone of Indianola fires his burner to edge his balloon Heart's Desire around another balloon being inflated at the Indianola Balloon Field for the Aug. 2 evening flight during the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Balloon pilot Tom Ricke of Clive climbs into the sky in Another Pastime as he launches from the Indianola Balloon Field during the Aug. 2 evening flight of the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Crew members help move the balloon Another Pastime piloted by Tom Ricke of Clive after a landing at the Indianola Balloon Field at the end of the Aug. 3 evening flight of the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD

Pilot Guy Gauthier of Henderson, TX, fires the burner of his balloon Orange Crush during the night glow at the Indianola Balloon Field following the end of the Aug. 3 evening flight of the National Balloon Classic. MICHAEL ROLANDS/RECORD-HERALD